Lacey Bell lives in Scarborough.

Like many residents, I supported the idea of a consolidated school when it was on the table.

I thrived in the “school within a school” model in elementary school in Freeport, and believed implementing a similar model in Scarborough could offer financial efficiencies and long-term benefits.

But the community spoke clearly: the majority of our neighbors want to keep and invest in our neighborhood schools. So I’m voting “Yes” on the upcoming referendum — not just out of respect for the democratic process, but because it’s the right thing to do for our children, our educators and our town.

The truth is, our school buildings are not in good shape. As a parent to three young children in the district, I’ve seen it firsthand.

At every open house, I lament about the learning time lost due to shared spaces constantly needing to be flipped — never mind the fact that we are relying on shipping containers for long-term storage. And yet, our  teachers continue to show up every day, creating warm, welcoming environments for our youngest learners.

Education in Scarborough goes well beyond the classroom; our educators are nurturing young people into kind, empathetic, curious citizens. They deserve facilities that match the level of care, creativity and dedication they bring to their work. Right now, we are asking them to do far too much with far too little.

Let’s be honest: the longer we delay, the worse — and more expensive — this gets. Construction costs are not going down. Deferred maintenance isn’t going to magically fix itself.

And “not to exceed” numbers may sound good politically, but they don’t reflect the very real need to invest meaningfully and urgently in our schools. Kicking the can down the road only increases the burden later, both financially and educationally.

I understand the concerns about the tax impact. Truly, I do. I recognize that I’m speaking from a place of privilege when I say that we can’t put a price on our kids’ learning environments. But rather than allowing that discomfort to paralyze us, let it motivate us.

Let’s push our town leaders to find creative ways to offset the tax impact and help protect families who have been a part of our community for decades. But we cannot keep expecting our children and educators to bear the cost of our collective inaction.

This plan isn’t perfect, but it’s the product of extensive community input, compromise and collaboration. It’s the best path forward for a town that values both its traditions and its future. It preserves the neighborhood school model that so many fought for, while also addressing the serious structural and spatial deficiencies within a budget that a majority of citizens indicated they would support.

And for those who are worried about how this will affect property values: strong public schools are one of the most reliable drivers of home value in any community. Investing in our schools is not just a moral imperative — it’s a sound financial one. A “Yes” vote is a vote for a more vibrant, attractive and resilient town.

This referendum is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about what kind of community we want to be. Do we prioritize our youngest residents and the people who dedicate their lives to teaching them? Do we respond to years of public feedback with action? Do we choose progress over paralysis?

I’m voting “Yes” — not because I got exactly what I wanted, but because I believe in doing what’s best for our children, even if it means changing course. I hope you’ll join me.